Episode 12:"Lies Between Us"

Atlas and Ama stepped out of the house, but the horror inside followed them like a shadow. Atlas's head spun, his vision blurring as he inhaled deep, ragged breaths. The overwhelming stench of blood clung to him, filling his lungs, making his stomach churn. Beside him, Ama was sobbing uncontrollably, her hands trembling as she clutched his arm.

The floating head in the sink wasn't just a grotesque sight—it was familiar. The matted fur, those lifeless, wide-open eyes staring into nothingness. Atlas had seen this cat before. It was the one Ama loved, the one she fed every morning, the one that brought a rare, unguarded smile to her face. Seeing it like this—decapitated, discarded in a sea of red—made his skin crawl. It wasn't just an act of violence; it was a message.

Just as Atlas shut his eyes, trying to push the image away, it clawed back into his mind—the cat's head floating in the pool of blood, staring at him as if it were alive. His eyes snapped open, and a shiver ran down his spine.

He turned to Ama, wrapping his arms around her in a desperate attempt to ground them both. "Shhh, Ama… calm down. You should be glad it wasn't your parents."

Ama's sobs quieted for a moment, but her voice trembled as she whispered, "You're right, Atlas… but… there's still no trace of my parents." Her body convulsed with another wave of anguish, and she buried her face in his chest.

Atlas clenched his jaw. "Ama, we need to go to the police."

She hesitated, then nodded. "Let's go. Quickly." But as she turned, her movements stiffened. Her breath hitched. "What if he gets angry that we involved the police? What if… what if he hurts my parents?"

Before Atlas could respond, her phone rang—an unknown number flashing on the screen. The shrill ring echoed in the night, cutting through the silence like a knife. Ama's fingers twitched as she hesitated, then put the call on speaker.

"Hello, is this Ama Watson?" The voice was deep, authoritative.

Ama swallowed hard. "Yes… who is this?"

"This is Officer Dan. Ama, you are urgently required at the police station."

Her pulse spiked. "Sir, right now, I—"

The officer's tone sharpened. "This isn't optional. You're needed for questioning regarding the deaths of Jade and Kayol. We have evidence that the murderer is from your college."

Atlas felt his blood freeze. Ama's eyes widened in horror, her face ashen. She knew who the murderer was. She didn't want to believe it, but deep down, she did. And so did Atlas. His stomach twisted as he thought of Mark. He had been so focused on protecting Ama that he hadn't let himself see it—Mark was the killer.

"If you refuse to come, we will bring you in by force," the officer warned. "Your cooperation is in your best interest."

Atlas and Ama exchanged a look.

"We should go," Atlas murmured. "Maybe they have information about your parents too."

Ama nodded weakly. Without another word, Atlas led her to his car. As he drove, he kept glancing at her. She looked like a ghost—pale, hollow, expressionless. But he knew her mind was screaming. He could feel her fear, her helplessness, the way her hands fidgeted in her lap.

When they arrived at the police station, the air was thick with tension. As Ama stepped inside, all eyes turned to her. Among them stood Jade and Kayol's parents, grief-stricken and hollow-eyed. Her principal. And then—Mark.

Atlas's breath caught in his throat. Mark sat in a chair, his leg wrapped in a cast, his usual smugness replaced with something unreadable.

"Miss Ama Watson?" The officer's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Yes," she answered, her own voice foreign to her ears.

Atlas rubbed her hand gently. She exhaled, steadying herself.

The officer's sharp eyes landed on Atlas. "And you are?"

"Atlas. A friend of Ama's. I recently transferred to the college."

The officer nodded. "Did you arrive before or after Jade's death?"

Atlas hesitated. "The day after."

"Noted. Both of you, take a seat."

They sat down, Ama trapped between Atlas and Mark. The air between them was suffocating.

"Miss Ama, do you suspect anyone?"

Ama stiffened. "No, officer. Jade didn't have enemies."

The officer leaned forward. "I didn't ask about enemies. I asked about people she didn't get along with."

Ama's throat tightened. She hesitated, then shook her head. "I—I don't know."

The officer turned to Mark. "What about you?"

Mark glanced at Ama for a split second before answering. "No, officer. I don't know."

"Interesting," the officer mused. "Mr. Mark, you and Jade were close friends, correct?"

"Yes, sir," Mark said nervously. "We were friends for a long time."

The officer's expression darkened. "Then why didn't you know that Ama and Jade never liked each other?"

Ama's breath caught. Mark tensed.

Atlas's mind reeled. This was new information.

The officer's gaze locked onto Ama. "Tell me if I'm wrong, Miss Watson."

Ama's voice wavered. "It wasn't that we didn't like each other. We just had… different opinions."

Mark quickly nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's all."

The officer smirked. "Sure."

Then he turned to Ama again. "And Kayol? She was your friend, right?"

"Yes… yes, sir."

"Then tell me—why did Jade and Kayol have an argument before their deaths?"

Ama's phone buzzed with another unknown call. Before she could react, the officer snatched it and silenced it.

"You're not at college, Ama. There are rules here," he said coldly.

Atlas's stomach churned. If that was the killer calling…

The officer leaned back in his chair. "Now, answer me."

Ama swallowed hard. "People said it was about who would be the topper this year… but I saw them fighting."

The officer hummed. "And what do you think, Mark?"

Mark shifted uncomfortably. "I was in sports class, so I didn't see much. But I heard Jade said something mean to Kayol."

The officer chuckled. "How ironic. Two people who claimed to be their friends, yet neither of you knew what they were truly fighting about."

Then he locked eyes with Atlas. "What do you think?"

Atlas hesitated, then slowly shook his head. "I don't know."

The officer exhaled, almost amused. "Well, I do."

The room tensed.

"The reason for their argument…" The officer paused, scanning Ama and Mark's faces. "…was their breakup."

they both were in a relationship for a very long time 

Silence.

Atlas's heart pounded. Ama's face drained of all color. Mark's fingers twitched.

Ama and mark both of them can't digest this fact 

The officer leaned forward, his gaze razor-sharp. "Now, let's start again, shall we?"